Introducing the SafeBears SVSH Committee
The SafeBears Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SB-SVSH) Committee is a new initiative dedicated to addressing sexual violence at UC Berkeley.
In 2018, over 15,000 members of the UC Berkeley campus community took the MyVoice Survey to share their experiences, beliefs, norms and knowledge regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The survey revealed that undergraduate students experience more SVSH harm, overall, than do graduate students, staff and faculty. Since starting at UC Berkeley, 17% of undergraduate students had experienced sexual assault, while 24% had experienced stalking, 11% relationship violence, and 30% sexual harassment. Among those undergraduates who had been sexually assaulted, the perpetrator was most likely to be a fellow undergraduate student (66% of cases), but a significant percentage (31%) were committed by individuals not affiliated with UC Berkeley.
The SB-SVSH Committee’s mission is to:
Foster a safe and supportive environment
Identify and advocate for prevention strategies
Promote awareness of support services and reporting options
Develop and deliver impactful programs
SafeBears welcomes all volunteers. Want to get involved with the SafeBears SVSH Committee? Email SB-SVSH Chairperson Elena Salazar for more information: sb-svsh@safebears.org.
Together, we can create a safer, more supportive campus at UC Berkeley.
Continue reading for a quick overview of UC Berkeley SVSH resources.
GETTING SUPPORT & EXPLORING OPTIONS
SVSH survivors have options for getting support and deciding whether, and how, to report. Students can make a report with campus or city police; file a Title IX complaint with the UC Berkeley Office for the Prevention of Discrimination & Harassment; consider a restraining order or civil lawsuit . . . or choose to do none of those things. The legal and healing landscape for survivors, and their parents and other supporters, can be overwhelming.
Here’s a quick overview of SVSH resources provided by UC Berkeley:
For emergencies, dial 911
Urgent SVSH Support Care Line, available 24/7 – 510-643-2005
PATH to Care Center – a safe place to start for confidential support
Learn more in the Where to Get Support Quick Guide for Students
